The Pelicans made big news on Friday when they announced Zion Williamson would be out indefinitely with a fractured left ring finger. Somewhat under the radar was GM David Griffin’s comment about Brandon Ingram‘s status. Griffin said that Ingram’s left ankle sprain “is going to sideline him indefinitely,” Andrew Lopez of ESPN tweets. Ingram was injured during Tuesday’s game against Golden State.
We have more on the Pelicans:
- As we noted, Griffin ripped the league’s officiating regarding Williamson, despite the fact he’s among the top five in the league in free throws per game. Griffin says Williamson’s power game and physical style shouldn’t influence how games are officiated, Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times Picayune relays. “I’ve heard officials say this to (head coach) Stan (Van Gundy): ‘Look, the kid’s a beast. He just brings about a bunch of contact,’” Griffin said. “OK, well that doesn’t have anything to do with what you’re supposed to be calling. I almost feel like they didn’t know how to deal with someone so sudden and so strong. So they sort of threw their hands up in the air.”
- Griffin’s claims regarding the lack of calls for Williamson are broken down in detail by Will Guillory of The Athletic. Guillory says that Griffin’s claims have some validity, balanced out by the fact that the league doesn’t want every game to turn into a parade to the free throw line. Thus, while it’s logical for Griffin to support his franchise player, his claims will likely fall on deaf ears.
- Newcomer Naji Marshall will receive approximately $120K this season, about double the minimum he could have gotten, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Instagram video). The breakdown on Marshall’s four-year contract include a $1.5MM guarantee for next season, $1.8MM for the 2022/23 season and a $1.93MM team option in 2023/24.
Not really big news since their chances of making the play-in tournament were virtually non-existent. They’ll be at the bottom of the SW division next year.
Still be better than the Rockets
Seriously? Even if they do nothing—even if they keep SVG I think they’ve at least figured out how to use Zion a *little* this year. I would be surprised if they weren’t in the play-in next year. And that’s worst case IMO
Add another TANK to the fleet. Pelicans could draft Mitchell with a top 10 pick. He can start at PG next yr. Wish Knicks could get him. Difference between a star and HOFer. Bron came in and made Cavs instant winners. Zion n Ingram come in and get stats. Not wins. Randle took 5yrs to start winning with those stats.
I get it. 10 more free throws and that’s another 5 points for Zion.
I get the critiques based on the fact Zion already is among the league leaders in FTA, but I think Griffin’s comment still holds water.
Watching Zion it’s clear no one knows what to do with him (yet), so it shouldn’t matter if he initiates contact or not—isn’t the rule verticality based? If Zion is too explosive for guys to get vertical and/or get to the proper spot on the floor to draw a charge it should be a defensive foul.
Refs had the same issue with Shaq. But the bottom line is the rules are the rules—a guy shouldn’t be penalized for being too strong or explosive.
Players who attack the basket all the time usually don’t get all the calls they deserve (unless they are called James Harden). They just have to assume it and adapt.
If ZW drives into a player then he may not get the call… may go the other way. If he drives into traffic it is probably a no-call and a defender may get a free shot in. Griffin should not be blind-sided by this like his comments suggest.
The story is that cluelessness, and refs calling ZW a beast!